Rawayana

Rawayana
Rawayana recording "Se Presta" Videoclip.
Rawayana recording "Se Presta" Videoclip.
Background information
OriginCaracas, Venezuela
Genres
Years active2007–present
LabelsBroccoli Records
Members
  • Alberto "Beto" Montenegro
  • Antonio "Tony" Casas
  • Andrés "Fofo" Story
  • Alejandro "Abeja" Abeijón
Past members
  • Rodrigo Michelangeli
Websitehttp://www.rawayana.com/

Rawayana is a Venezuelan band formed in Caracas in 2007.[1] The group's music combines a variety of musical genres including reggae, psychedelic, electronic, funk and salsa, and the members describe their style as "trippy pop".[2] The band consists of Alberto "Beto" Montenegro, Antonio "Tony" Casas, Andrés “Fofo” Story and Alejandro "Abeja" Abeijón.

The band has released 5 studio albums and has collaborated with artists such as Parcels, Danny Ocean, Natalia Lafourcade, Bomba Estéreo, Monsieur Periné and Los Amigos Invisibles. They have performed in festivals such as Coachella and Lollapalooza and are the recipients of two Latin Grammys and a Grammy.

History

After the release of the album Trippy Caribbean in 2016, the band was nominated for Best New Artist at the 18th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, losing to Dominican musician Vicente García.[3][4] To promote the album, the band embarked on a tour of major cities in Latin America and the United States, and released a music video for the song "Funky Fiesta" featuring Jose Luis Pardo of Los Amigos Invisibles.[5]

Rawayana's 2021 album Cuando los Acéfalos Predominan discusses the crisis in Venezuela in both its lyrical content as well as the album's accompanying music videos.[6] The album featured Los Amigos Invisibles, Cheo Pardo, and Akapellah, and was released in conjunction with an art installation in Mexico City.[7] In the words of lead singer Montenegro, the satirical music video for the song "Into You", which parodies Latin American talk shows, served as a way to "[call] forth major 'entertainers' in the industry not to stay silent about the world’s problems".[8]

On September 19, 2023, the band performed a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR to promote their album ¿Quién trae las cornetas?, which was officially released two days later on September 21.[9] The Tiny Desk performance helped popularize them to non-Hispanic audiences.[citation needed] On 2024 the band embarked on the ¿Quién trae las cornetas? World Tour, with over 50 shows spanning Europe, North America, South America and the Caribbean.[citation needed]

In 2024, Rawayana's song "Feriado" won Best Pop Song at the 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.[10] In early 2025, their album ¿Quién Trae las Cornetas? won the 2025 Grammy for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album.[11]

In early 2024, Bomba Estereo frontman Li Saumet sent a track to the band with the intention of collaborating; what was originally supposed to be an EP ended up becoming a full album under the name Astropical, released on March 7, 2025.[citation needed] The supergroup has multiple US dates planned for mid 2025, their first live show being in Vive Latino 2025 in Mexico City.[citation needed]

In June 2025, member Beto featured on Maye's debut album Música Para Abrir El Cielo for its single "Lento".[12]. “In November, Rawayana — together with Venezuelan rapper Akapellah — won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Electronic Music Performance for their song ‘Veneka’.

In October 2025, Nathy Peluso composed the song "Malportada", featuring Rawayana.[13]

On 1 January 2026, Rawayana released their new album "¿Dónde Es El After?” which features Venezuelan artists like Elena Rose, Servando & Florentino and Joaquina. The cover hides an easter egg to an speech of Venezuelan writer Arturo Uslar Pietri. In their opening track "Si Te Pica Es Porque Eres Tú", they open with the lyrics “Un feliz año te desea Rawa, y que por fin los hijueputas ya se vayan,” (Rawa wishes you a happy new year, and may those sons of bitches finally leave"), in reference to the Nicolás Maduro government. Two days later, the United States intervened in Venezuela and captured Maduro which produced a popular response to Rawayana in YouTube. Users drew parallels between the lyrics and the events in Venezuela.[14]

Cancelled tour

The song "Veneka" was criticized by the Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, which forced Rawayana to cancel their tour through Venezuela in 2024/2025.[15]

Members

Official members

  • Alberto "Beto" Montenegro (vocals, guitar) (2007-present)
  • Antonio "Tony" Casas (bass, synth) (2007-present)
  • Andrés "Fofo" Story (drums, percussion, guitar) (2011-present)
  • Alejandro "Abeja" Abeijón (guitar, synth) (2007-present)

Current touring members

  • Orestes Gómez (percussion, synths, samples) (2023-present)[citation needed]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
Licencia Para Ser Libre[11]
  • Released: March 30, 2011[16]
  • Label: Digital Pressure, Peermusic Venezuela
Rawayanaland
  • Released: May 19, 2013[17]
  • Label: Brocoli Records
Trippy Caribbean[11]
  • Released: October 7, 2016[18]
  • Label: Brocoli Records
Cuando los Acéfalos Predominan
  • Released: February 5, 2021[19]
  • Label: Brocoli Records
¿Quién Trae las Cornetas?[11]
  • Released: September 21, 2023[20]
  • Label: Brocoli Records
¿Dónde es el after?
  • Released: January 1, 2026[21]
  • Label: Brocoli Records

Collaborative albums

Title Details
Astropical
with Bomba Estéreo

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Certifications Album
Me Pasa (Piscis)
with Bomba Estéreo 		2025 Astropical

Awards and nominations

Award Year Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
Grammy Awards 2025 ¿Quién Trae las Cornetas? Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album Won [11]
Latin Grammy Awards 2024 "Feriado" Best Pop Song Won [10]
2025 "Veneka" Best Latin Electronic Music Performance Won
"Venga Lo Que Venga" (with Fonseca) Best Tropical Song Nominated
Premios Juventud 2025 Themselves Favorite Group or Duo of The Year Pending [24]
"La Culpa" (with Kany García) Tropical Mix
Astropical (with Bomba Estéreo) Best Tropical Album


References

  1. ^ Mourinho, Barbara (January 21, 2021). "Rawayana, rompiendo barreras de espacio y tiempo". Rolling Stone (in Spanish). Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  2. ^ Santos, Eduardo (May 25, 2016). "Hablamos de viajes psicodélicos con Rawayana". Vice (in Spanish). Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "Rawayana sobre Venezuela: "La gente está más pendiente de la novela política que de los problemas"". Billboard Argentina (in Spanish). October 24, 2017.
  4. ^ Arbona-Ruiz, Marisa (June 5, 2019). "Vicente García: A Pop-Fusion Star On A Mission To Stay Authentic". National Public Radio. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Estevez, Marjua (October 20, 2017). "Cut a Rug at Rawayana & Jose Luis Pardo's 'Funky Fiesta' (Watch)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Monterrubio, Uriel (June 7, 2021). "Rawayana: exponiendo el surrealismo latinoamericano". Rolling Stone (in Spanish). Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  7. ^ Roiz, Jessica (May 20, 2021). "Every Latin Album Release in May 2021: Natalia Lafourcade, Lunay, Juanes & More". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  8. ^ "Rawayana's 'Into You' music video calls out authoritarian governments, discusses the situation in Venezuela". Al Dia News. September 9, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Gomez Sarmiento, Isabella (September 19, 2023). "Rawayana: Tiny Desk Concert". National Public Radio. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Garcia, Thania (November 14, 2024). "Latin Grammys 2024 Winners List". Variety. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e Villa, Lucas (February 2, 2025). "WATCH: Rawayana Pays Tribute to Venezuela With Their Win at 2025 Grammys". Remezcla. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  12. ^ Pulgar, E.R. (August 11, 2025). "Maye Opens the Heavens". Spin. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  13. ^ Flores, Griselda (2025-10-10). "Nathy Peluso, Santa Fe Klan & More: Who Had the Best New Latin Music Release This Week? Vote!". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  14. ^ "Venezuelan band Rawayana accidentally dropped a timely new album". Los Angeles Times. 2026-01-08. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  15. ^ "How Venezuela's most popular band overcame the odds and became the soundtrack of a generation in exile". Los Angeles Times. 2025-04-12. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  16. ^ "Licencia Para Ser Libre". Spotify. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  17. ^ "Rawayanaland". Spotify. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  18. ^ "Trippy Caribbean". Spotify. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  19. ^ "Cuando los Acéfalos Predominan". Spotify. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  20. ^ "¿Quién Trae las Cornetas?". Spotify. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  21. ^ "¿Dónde es el after?". Spotify. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  22. ^ "Astropical". Spotify. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  23. ^ "American certifications – Rawayana". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  24. ^ Roiz, Jessica (August 19, 2025). "Bad Bunny y Danny Ocean lideran nominaciones a los Premios Juventud 2025: Lista completa". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawayana